Middle Tennessee home to TE sleeper

It is not very often that a football prospect emerges prior to his senior season without even playing as a junior but that is exactly what is happening with Franklin (Tenn.) Centennial tight end Drew Kelly. At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, Kelly is a standout on the basketball court but is beginning to realize that football may be his sport in college.

After a standout season as a sophomore wide receiver, Kelly sat out his junior football season to focus on a potential future on the hardwood.

"I had a feeling that I wasn't really good enough or tall enough to be a high major D-I player so I just took the time to see if I could get my jumper down," Kelly said. "I got my jumper but then I realized that I was kind of an undersized center going against these 6-10 or 6-9 freaks."

On the football field, Kelly is the physical standout.

"I have really good hands," he said. "I'm pretty fast for a 6-6, 240-pound guy. I run around a 4.6 40. I have good footwork and good hands."

Several coaches have been impressed with Kelly's upside on the football field and have stopped by to see him during the spring evaluation period.

"I've had a few coaches come through," he said. "I've had UT, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Memphis, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee State and UT-Chattanooga all come visit me at school. I had Kentucky and Ole Miss call before and all of them want me to go to their camps but I'm only going to three."

Kelly has already camped at Louisville and Tennessee and hopes to attend the Vanderbilt camp on June 21st as well.

"A lot of them have talked about offering," he said. "Vanderbilt, Louisville, Memphis, Middle Tennessee and Kentucky have all said they want me to play for them."

Will a school recruiting Kelly be dealing with a two-sport athlete?

"Right now I'm leaning more towards football for college," he said. "I think I'm more of a football type player. I'm built more football-wise."

Kelly grew up a fan of Louisville and his uncle played for the University of Tennessee but according to the big tight end, "any offer is fine with me."